Display device



Aug. 19, 1941. c. H. WELCH I 2,252,794

DISPLAY DEVICE V Filed Aug. 15, "1940 Z5 Z7 6 L I a I 9 45 /e 4 INVENTOR Charles H- T452101;

ATTORNEYS ment.

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATESWPPATIENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Charles H. Welch, ,ClevelandiHeights, Ohio Application August 15, 1940, Serial No. 352,818

This invention relates to display devices, and

8 Claims.

more particularly to displays in which frames for cards, photographs, and the like are pivotally mounted on rotatable carriers so that the cards can be successively moved into view for advertising purposes and the like.

.Rotatable display devices are usually mounted in casings and provided with mechanisms for swinging the card frames from one side to another across suitable windows or openings in the casings so that both sides of each frame can be brought successively into view through the openings or windows. Numerous mechanisms for swinging the frames have been employed and have been found to operate with some degree of success. However, such mechanisms are frequently quite elaborate and expensive to manufacture, as well as being subject to misadjust- It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a generally improved rotary display device having simple and inexpensive means for swinging card frames so that both sides of the latter can be successively brought into view.

Another object is to provide an improved swinging movement at approximately the same and in which the swinging movement of the frame swinging mechanism for a rotary display device in which the frames are each released for frame is accurately controlled and restricted to a predetermined path or paths. More specifically, the invention aims to provide a frame swingin mechanism which incorporates slotted arms on the frames that are engageable with a sta tionary pin or pins so that the interaction of the pins in the slots controls and actuates the frames.

Another object is to provide an improved display device having a base portion to contain the drive mechanism and a top or casing which is removably mounted on the base and contains the rotary carrier with the swinging frames, there being provided a disconnectable drive between the drive means in the base and the rotary carrier in the casing which is automatically estabpresent both sides of ,each frame to view through the several openings in the casings.

Another object is to providea display device may be easily removed from the latter.

of the rotary type in which swingable frames are provided with bifurcated arms which engage a stationary pin that operates the arms as a lever to swing the frames, the arms being so arranged that a plurality thereof engage the pin simultaneously. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a suitable embodiment of the inventionwhich is made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, showing my improved display device;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, of the display device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, with parts removed, taken substantially on the line ,3-3 of Fig. l;

' Fig. Alisa sectional detail on an enlarged scale illustrating the operating mechanism for swinging the frames;

:Fig. "51572.11 enlarged plan view, partly in sec- .tionand somewhat diagrammatic, of the operatingmechjanism shown in Fig. 4; and

,Fig. 6 is a sectionaldetail taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates a rotary carrier having card frames 'pivotally mounted thereon. Each frame has a bifurcated arm secured thereto and guides are provided to direct the movement of the frames so that the arms are received on and embrace stationary pins which actuate the arms to swing the frames from one side to another across suitable windows in the casing for the device. The casing is removably mounted on a pedestal or base and a disconnectable drive extends from the carrier to a suitable motor in the base so that the casing Referring now to. the drawings by numerals which indicate like parts throughout the several views, my improved rotary display device will now be explained in detail. The base or pedestal has an annular base side wall I which tapers toward the top. The side-wall is supported on a platform 2, preferably being securedthereto by brackets 3. Across the top of the baselis disposed a-deck 4 .which may be secured thereto by welding, orif desired, the deck may be integral with the side walls I. For example, the base may be formed of sheet metal, such as steel, in a stamping operation wherein the sides I and deck 4 are formed from a single piece ,of metal.

Surmounting the base'is an upright casingi of generally circular or cylindrical form. This casing is formed of sheet metal such as steel, although wood and similar materials can be employed. A bottom 6 in the casing is formed with a circular peripheral flange I which is directed downwardly and is welded or otherwise secured. to the inside of the casing circumferentially around the lower edge of the latter. As shown in Fig. 3, the bottom 6 of the casing is spaced above the top 4 of the base and is retained and centered on the base by suitable means such as an upstanding ring or bracket 8' which extends around the edge of the base top. Preferably, the bottom periphery of the casing embraces and has telescopic sliding engagement over the bracket 8 to facilitate removal of the casing from the base.

Surmcunting the casingis a conical top or cover 9 which may be formed of sheet metal or similar material and is peripherally secured by welding or otherwise to the upper edge of the casing wall 5.

Extending vertically through the center of the casing is a rotatable carrier which includes a vertically disposed shaft I0 journaled at its bottom' end in an opening formed in the bottom 6 of the casing. This opening may be reinforced. by, a ring or bushing II secured to the bottom 6, as by welding, to form a rigid bearing for the lower end of the shaft. The upper end of the shaft I0 is received in a socket or journal member I3 which is secured to the peak of the top 9. This member may be formed in separable halves which are disposed on opposite sides of the top and are connected together through a hole in the latter. Cross members 26, which may be or swinging arm 25.

ings or windows as the frames are successively moved thereacross.

Secured to each of the frames I'I, preferably along the bottom edge thereof, is an actuating Each of the arms 25 is formed with a bifurcated end portion which extends underneath the bottom rotor or disc I4 and beyond the circular path of the pivots I8 toward the axis or shaft ID of the carrier. The

'end portions of the arms on'adjacent frames are offset different amounts, providing one alternate series having offset portions 2Ia and another alternate series having offset portions 25b.

. In this manner, the bifurcated ends of the arms in th'e'fo-rmof angle irons, are secured to the underside of the casing bottom it adjacent to the opening for the shaft II] for the purpose of strengthening the structure and supporting the weight of the carrier. Mounted on the shaft It for rotation therewith are lower and upper circular discs or rotors I4 and I5, respectively.

These rotors are spaced apart vertically along the shaft and the lower rotor has a hub I5 which bears against the journal orbushing II to support the carrier in the housing and to prevent endend of a pivot screw 43 threaded downwardlylthrough the upper disc I5 adjacent the periphery of the latter and secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 14. The pivots I3 and the screws 43 are vertically aligned with one another and spaced equidistant from the shaft It so that the pivots for the frames I! travel in circular paths,

or substantially so. i

As shown in Fig. 2, the frames I! are preferably of rectangular shape, although other forms and shapes -may be used if desired. The socket ,42 and the pivot I8 are disposed at the top and bottom ends respectively of one of the upright side pieces: of each frame so that the frames are mounted for swinging movements on the pivots as they are rotated by the carrier.

Windows or openings, the edges of which. are

indicated at I9 and 20, are formed in opposite sides of, the casing walls 5 so that the cards, pictures, or advertising material displayed in the frames Il may be viewed through the open- .fined to relatively narrow,

by the platform 2 of the base.

are prevented from engaging one another during the swinging of the frames, as will later appear. Elongated slots I2 are formed in the offset portions 2Iq and 2Ib of the arms and open through the free ends of the latter. These slotshave sides that are parallel or approximately so, as shown in 'Fig. 5, and as the carrier is rotated, the slots receive stationary pins or fulcrum elements 22 secured to the bottom 6 'of the casing. The pins 22 may be formed with heads 23 which seat against the underside of the bottom 6, the pins extending upwardly through suitable apertures in the bottom and threadedly receiving nuts or similar devices 2t which may be tightened against the top surface of the bottom 6 to hold the pins in place.

Preferably, the pins 22 are located opposite the centers .of the openings I9 and 29 and are so arranged as to receive the slotted or bifurcated ends of the arms 25' before the corresponding frames. commence their movement across the openings in the casing.

As the carrier is rotated slowly, as will be hereinafter described, depending abutment elements or fingers 2f secured to the frames I? move into engagement With'curved guide members 28 adjustably secured on the bottom member 6 of the Icasing; The guides 28 are curved or formed inwardly'toward the axis of rotation of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 1. By this arrangement the rotary movement of the individual frames I1 is temporarily retarded so that they are concircumferentially spaced portions of the casing 5, thus leaving clear the larger circumferential portions, opposite the'openings or windows I9 and 2B, for viewing ofthe cards or other material in the frames A drive for the rotary carrier is located within the base I and comprises an electric motor'29 mounted on the platform 2 and connected by a belt 38 to a speed reducing mechanism 3|. A bevel gear 32 carried by a driven shaft of the speed reducer meshes with a horizontally disposed ring gear 33 securedon a vertical shaft 34. The bottom of this vertical shaft is supported on a ball 35 within a socket 36 carried The upper end of the shaft 34 is received within a sleeve 3'! journaled in an opening formed in the top 4 of the base. The top opening may be reinforced by a. ring or bushing 38. A radial flange 39 'formed. on the sleeve 31 bears against the underside of the bushing 38 to prevent upward or axial shifting of the shaft 34 and the latter is d'rivingly connected to the sleeve by means of apin 4d. The upper end of the sleeve 31 is in the form of a square or rectangular socket which slidingly' receives a mating non-circular or,

square end 4| formed on the bottom of the carrier shaft IE3. In the assembly of the casing 5 on the base I the squareend 4| of the carrier shaft is received within the socket of the sleeve 31 as .the bottom end of the casing is telescopicially fitted about the ring member or bracket 8. The assembly of the casing with the base automatically establishes a driving connection between the drive means in the base and the carrierin the casing. This arrangement is very advantageous because it permits the use of a number of casings with a single base, whereby different groups of pictures or advertising displays can be presented without the necessity for replacing the entire device or interchanging the different materials to be displayed in the frames I1.

In the operation of the device the rotary carrier in the casing is turned slowly so that the discs or rotary members I4 and I5 make about one revolution in a period of several minutes. For example, in a display device having twelve of the frames I1, I prefer to rotate the carrier so that one revolution of the same is completed in about ten minutes, allowing approximately twenty-five seconds for viewing each side of every frame through the windows I9 and 20. As the rotation of the discs I4 and I5 draws one of the frames I1 toward one of the openings or windows I9 and 25, the abutment 21 on the frame engages one of the guides 28 and the rotary or swinging movement of the frame in the casing is thereby arrested or retarded. As the discs Ia and I5 continue to rotate slowly, the abutment or element 21 is drawn along the guide 28 toward discharge end 45 thereof, and the frames I1 rotate on the pivots I B and 43 backward or in a reverse or counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 5. This pivoting of the frames swings the free or open ends of the offset bifurcated portions 2| of the arms one at a time into alignment with the pins 22. As the fingers or abutments 21 approach the discharge ends of the guides 28 and one of the frames I1 reaches the position indicated by the broken line He of Fig. 5, the open end of the slot I2 is received on one of the pins 22. frames beyond the position shown by the broken lines lid of Fig. 5, the finger abutment 21 thereof is released by the guide 28 and the continued rotation of the discs I4 and I5 causes the bifurcated end of the arrn25 to ride along one of the pins 22.

As shown in Fig. 5 and as previously mentioned, the pins 22 are disposed radially inward from the circular path of the pivots l3 toward the shaft IE3 or axis of rotation of the carrier. Accordingly, as each of the frames I1 is advanced toward the center of one of the openings or windows I9 and 2B, the distance between the corresponding pin 22 and the pivot I8 of the frame is progressively diminished so that the swinging of the frame by the movement of the bifurcated arm 25 in relation to the stationary pin 22 occurs most rapidly as the frame is moved across the central part of the window or opening. Thus, there is an acceleration of the individual swinging movement of the frames from the time they are released one at a time by the discharge ends of the guides 28 until they pass the centers of the openings or windows I 9 and 20. There is then a deceleration of the swinging movement of the frames until the arms 25 are withdrawn from the pins 22.

In the movement of the frames I1 across the openings I9 and 20, the bifurcated ends of Upon movement of one of the 28, is received on one of the pins 22 before the slotted or bifurcated arm of thepreoeding frame has cleared the pin. Accordingly, and as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, a plurality of the bifurcated arms may be simultaneously received on and guided by a single one of the pins 22. In order that the ends of the arm 25 of different frames may not engageor interfere with the movement of one another, the portions 2Ia and 2th of the arms on adjacent frames are offset different amounts, as previously mentioned and as shown in Figs. a'and 6. In the embodiment illustrated, the disposition and arrangement of parts is such that not more than two of the slotted arms 25 concurrently embrace either of the pins 22. Therefore, only two degrees or amounts of offset are provided for the arms 25. For example, one alternate series of the arms 25 may have the bifurcated portions 2 la, disposed in substantially a common plane and offset a relatively small amount, sufficient to clear the bottoms of the pivots I8, while another alternate set orseries of the arms 25, which are attached to frames interposed between the frames carrying the first mentioned set of arms, have the bifurcated portions 2!!) disposed in another common plane and offset a relatively large amount. By this offset method a multiplicityof display frames may be mounted on a single carrier and all of the frames can be positively guided during their swinging movement across the windows or openings of the display casing. It is to be understood, of course, that where a greater number of frames are employed, additional offsetting of the bifurcated ends of the arms 25 may be required, depending upon the number of arms simultaneously engaged by the guide pins 22.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiment shown in the drawing and described above is given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim is: i. A display device comprising a casing having a window therein, a rotary carrier within the casing, a plurality of frames pivotally mounted on the carrier in radial relation, a pin parallel to the rotational axis of the carrier and spaced therefrom, and an arm secured to each frame and having a bifurcated portion arranged to straddle the pin to be actuated thereby, as the carrier is rotated, to swing the frames successively across the window, the bifurcated portions of the arms on adjacent frames being offset from one another longitudinally of the pin to permit simultaneous engagement of the pin by a number of the arms.

2. A display device comprising a casing having a window therein, a rotary carrier within the casing, a plurality of frames pivotally mounted on the carrier in radial relation, a pin parallel to the rotational axis of the carrier and spaced therefromfanarm secured to each frame and having a bifurcated portion arranged to straddle the pin to be actuated thereby as the carrier is rotated. to swing the frame successively across the window, a guide supported adjacent the path of the frames, and means on each frame engageable with the guide and cooperable therewith to direct the bifurcated portion of the arm on the frame toward the pin.

3. A display device comprising a casing having a window therein, a rotary carrier within the casing, a plurality of frames pivotally mounted on the carrier in radial relation, a pin parallel to the rotational axis of the carrier and spaced therefrom, an arm secured to each frame and having a bifurcated portion arranged to straddle the pin to be actuated thereby as the carrier is rotated to swing the frames successively across the window, a guide supported adjacent the path of the frames, meanson each frame engageable with the guide and cooperable therewith to direct the bifurcated portionof the arm on the frame toward the pin, the bifurcated portions of the arms on adjacent frames being offset from one another longitudinally of the pin to permit simultaneous engagement of the pin by a number of the arms.

4. A, display device comprising a casing having windows in opposite sides thereof, a rotary carrier within the casing and means for actuating the same, a plurality of frames mounted on the carrier for pivotal movement about axes substantially equally spaced from and approximately parallel to therotational axis of the carrier, a pair of pins disposed on opposite sides of the carrier axis and parallel thereto and between such axis and the path of the frame axes, and arms secured to the frames and having bifurcated end portions adapted to straddle the pins and to'swingthe frames forwardly across the Windows in the direction of rotation of the carrier as the latter is actuated.

5. In a display device having frames pivotally mounted on a rotary carrier and means for actuating the carrier so that the frame pivots travel in a substantially circular path about the rotational axis of the carrienthe improvement which comprises a pin disposed between said path and axis, an arm secured to each frame and having an elongated slot which opens through one end thereof, a guidev disposed on the opposite side of the path from the pin, and means on each frame engageable with the guideduring part of the travel of the frame to control the pivotal 'movement of the latter and direct the open end of the slotted arm onto the pin, said pin and arms being adapted to successively swing the frames forward in the direction of rotation of the carrier during actuation of the latter.

6. A display device comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, means for rotating the shaft, apair of discs secured on the shaft in spaced relation to one another, a plurality of frames disposed between the discs in radial relation about the shaft and having pivotal connection with the discs, arms secured to the frames and having free ends which extend inwardly beyond the edge of one of the discs'toward. the

shaft and on the side of such disc oppositethe frames, a stationary pin secured to the casing adjacent the last mentioned disc, and an elongated slot in each arm opening through the free end thereof and adapted to receive the pin, said in being located closer to the shaft than the frame pivots whereby the arms slide over the pin during the rotation of the shaft and are guided thereby to swing the frames on the pivots forwardly one at a time in the direction of rotation of the shaft.

'7. -A display device comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, means for rotating the shaft, a pair of discs secured on the shaft in spaced relation to one another, a plurality of frames disposed between the discs in radial relation about the shaft and having pivotal connection with the discs, arms secured to the frames and having free ends which extend inwardly beyond the edge of one of thedi'scs toward the shaft and on the side of such disc opposite the frames, a stationary pin secured to the casing adjacent the last mentioned disc, an elongated slot in each arm opening through the free end thereof and adapted to receive the pin, said pin being located closer to the shaft than the frame pivots whereby the arms slide over the pin during the rotation. of the shaft and are guided thereby to swing the frames on the pivots forwardly one at a time in the direction of rotation of the shaft, a guide on the casing adjacent the path of the frames, and elements secured to the frames and engageabie with the guide to retard the frames, said guide being disposed to direct the open end of the arm slot onto the pin and to release the frame for swinging motion subsequent to the movement of the arm onto the pin.

8. In a display device having a plurality of frames pivotally mounted on a rotary carrier and means for actuating the carrier, mechanism for swinging the frames comprising a stationary pin, an arm secured to eachframe, and an elongated slot in each arm adapted toreceive the pin, said pin being substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the carrier and offset from the path of the frame pivots so that it slides longitudinally in the arm slots and actuates the arms as levers to swing the frames forwardly in the direction of rotation of the carrier, the slotted portions of the arms on adjacent frames being offset from one another axially of pin to permit engagement of tthe pin simultaneously in a number of arm slo s;

CHARLES H. WELCH. 

